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Characterization of biomass sorghum for copper phytoremediation: photosynthetic response and possibility as a bioenergy feedstock from contaminated land

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Abstract

In order to decrease the concentration of toxic metals in contaminated lands, phytoextraction can be suitable considering the use of plant species with high potential for biomass production, such as biomass sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). We assessed a biomass sorghum (BRS716) potential as a copper phytoextractor as well as the physiological stability under this stressful condition. A completely randomized experimental design was used for a greenhouse experiment in which sorghum plants were submitted to a range of Cu2+ concentrations: 2.3, 10.9, 19.6, 30.5, 37.6 and 55.6 mg dm−3. The plant growth was not affected by increasing Cu2+ concentrations, suggesting that this species is tolerant to copper. There was a decrease in photosynthetic rate according to the increase in Cu2+ concentration, but not at a level that could disturb plant metabolism and eventual death. The values obtained for transfer index ranged from 0.62 to 0.11 which evidenced the restriction of Cu2+ transport to the aerial parts. The more Cu2+ available in soil, the smaller the amount of Cu2+ transported to aerial parts of sorghum. So, our results show that biomass sorghum has potential to be used for Cu2+ phytoextraction in concentration of up to 20 mg dm−3. Also, in heavily Cu2+ polluted sites, it can be used to produce biomass for bioenergy purpose, promoting a low rate of Cu2+ extraction.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge: Dr. Rafael Augusto Costa Parrella to kindly give biomass sorghum BRS-716 seeds; FAPESP for the following Grant (2015/09567-9); IF Goiano, FEIS-UNESP, FAPEG, CNPq and CAPES for general fundings to institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano – Campus Rio Verde, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil

    Letícia Rigonato Lima, Higor Ferreira Silva, Alcindo Souza Brignoni & Fabiano Guimarães Silva

  2. Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Biologia e Zootecnia, Laboratório de Fisiologia do Metabolismo Vegetal, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil

    Liliane Santos Camargos

  3. Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano – Campus Rio Verde – Polo de Inovação em Bioenergia e Grãos, Rio Verde, GO, Brazil

    Lucas Anjos Souza

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  1. Letícia Rigonato Lima
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  2. Higor Ferreira Silva
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  3. Alcindo Souza Brignoni
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  4. Fabiano Guimarães Silva
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Correspondence to Lucas Anjos Souza.

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Appendix: Complementary statistical data

Appendix: Complementary statistical data

This table displays statistical elements that showed significance in results for net photosynthesis (A, µmol CO2 m−2 s−1); copper concentration in shoot (C.C.S.—mg kg−1); copper content in shoot (C.C.S.*—µg plant−1); copper concentration in roots (C.C.R.—mg kg−1); copper content in roots (C.C.R.*—µg plant−1); copper concentration in whole plant (C.C.W.P.—mg kg−1); copper content in whole plant (C.C.W.P.*—µg plant−1) and translocation index (T.I).

 

Variable

Regression model

Equations

R 2

ANOVA

F

p

Table 2

A

Linear

y = − 0.0253x + 19.19

0.337

3.01

0.03

Table 4

C.C.S.

Linear

y = − 0.1662x + 41.97

0.215

5.20

0.002

Table 4

C.C.S.*

Linear

y = − 0.6575x + 148.97

0.263

3.39

0.018

Table 4

C.C.R.

Linear

y = 0.9691x + 44.38

0.852

31.92

0.000

Table 4

C.C.R.*

Linear

y = 2.8347x + 38.14

0.894

5.90

0.001

Table 4

C.C.W.P.

Linear

y = 1.8763x +116.27

0.666

3.11

0.026

Table 4

C.C.W.P.*

Linear

y = 2.1771x + 187.11

0.742

3.02

0.029

Table 4

T.I.

Linear

y = − 0.0032x + 0.58

0.788

14.69

0.000

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Lima, L.R., Silva, H.F., Brignoni, A.S. et al. Characterization of biomass sorghum for copper phytoremediation: photosynthetic response and possibility as a bioenergy feedstock from contaminated land. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 25, 433–441 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-018-00638-0

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